Holding-block for cases and boxes.



. y l Patented Mar. 26, Illl; E. J. FLETCHER C. E. BULKLEY.

HOLDING BLCK FR GASES 0B BUXES.

(Applicman med Feb. s, 1900.,

A r1 c l No. (579,446A

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES FATENT Erica.

EDWIN J. FLETCHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND CHARLES E. BULKLEY, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO THE PATENT CASE COMPANY, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

HOLDING-BLOCK FOR CASES OR BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,446, dated March 26, 1901.

Application led. February 8, 1900. Serial No. 4,465. (No model.)

To all whom it 'may concern:

Beit known that we, EDWIN J. FLETCHER, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, and CHARLES E. BULKLEY, residing at Summit, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, citizens of the United States, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Holding-Blocks for Cases or 1o Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to means for supporting and holding articles of silverware, cutlery, jewelry, and the like in the cases or t5 boxes in which such goods are displayed.

The object of the invention is to provide a block adapted to hold a variety of differentlyshaped articles of varying sizes, so mounted as to allow its position to be changed in conzo ditioning the case to receive the various articles and permit the latter to be sym metrically and attractively arranged.

The ordinary block now generally used consists of a pair of jaws, one xed and the other hinged and actuated by a spring, and is objectionable for the reason that the angle formed by the jaw-opening increases as the opening widens, so that if proportioned to hold thin or narrow articles successfully 3o wider articles are insecurely held. Another objectionable feature of this construction is the shifting of the center line of the jaw-opening, due to the movement of one jaw alone. The center line travels away from the fixed 3 5 jaw as the opening widens, andtherefore while a small or narrow article may lie in the desired position in the case a wider article thus held will be carried farther from the fixed jaw and thus out of symmetrical rela- 4o tion to the case and to adjacent articles therein.

In our improved block the parallelism or relative angular relation of the graspingfaces of the jaws is maintained regardless of the distance of separation. The construction also provides a base of large area, by which the block may be irmly secured in the case and the shifting of the center line of the jawopening is avoided.

The invention consists of a pair of jaws 5o mounted and guided in ways with liberty to move toward and from each other, urged together by the force of a spring exerting an equal tension on both jaws. A center piece placed between the jaws holds them-norn'ially 55 apart sufficiently to allow their easy separation, while allowing them to approach closely enough to grasp the smallest article for which they are adapted. The center piece also serves the important function of indicating 6o thecentral line of the jaw-opening.

Additional ways receiving the ends of those in which the jaws move and arranged transversely thereto allow the block and its jaws to be shifted as required in establishing the article in the exact position desired.

The accom panyingdrawingsform a part of this specification and show the invention as we have carried it out.

Figure l is a longitudinal section through 7o a case, showing one ofthe blocks in end elevation. Fig. 2 is a corresponding cross-section showing the block in side View. The remaining figures are on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the block alone. Fig. 4 is a 75 transverse section taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show a modified form of the block. Fig. 6 is a plan view. Fig. 7 is a section 8o taken on the line 7 7 in Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a corresponding end view. Fig. 9 is a plan View showing a further adaptation of the block, and Fig. lO is a corresponding side elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in allfthe iigures. l

Referring to Figs. l to 5, inclusive, A A are vertical jaws of lightstrong wood or other suitable material, each-tapered toward the top 9o and having a dovetail groove ct extending longitudinally of the otherwise plane lower face. The adjacent or grasping faces A' A are preferably plane and at right angles to the lower face, but may be grooved transversely or otherwise shaped to increase the grasp upon the article to be held. The base B is of sufficient width to offer easy and strong attachment to the bottom M of a case M and is provided with central longitudinally-extending ways B' 3' of' dovetail section, matching to the grooves a d in the jaws and receiving the latter with liberty to shift thereon in the direction of' the ways. A helical spring C, fastened to each jaw on the outer end or face A2, extends beneath each and lies in the grooves a and the groove Zi, formed in the upper face of the ways, as shown, and serves to draw the jaws together with sufficient force to hold the articleinserted between them. D D are center pieces or blocks secured to the base between the jaws and serve to hold the latter normallyseparated Lo a distance equal to their width. The block thus constructed will serve in a variety of situations, as will be understood. We have shown it in a case for holding an article of silverware. lt is secured to the bottom ll' of the case M by cement applied to the extended face of the base B or by nailing, orboth. The material forthe bed M2 is then filled in and around the block and the covering M3 applied, concealing the block, but having sufficient fullness to allow the jaws to he manipulated beneath it in placing and releasing the article to be held. The center pieces D may be of any desired width or may be omitted, if preferred, especially if the article to be held be quite thin or narrow. One of' the jaws may be stationary, if desired, in any case.

The form shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 is designed more especially for service close to the wall of the case. In this form the ways B3 B3 are rabbeted strips secured to the upper face of the base B2near the edges, as shown, and receive corresponding flanges on the jaws A3 A4, which in this form are not counterparts each of the other. The jaw A4, lying next the wall M4, is thinner, and its base A5 extends beneath a center piece D, reaching across from one strip B3 to the other and toward and partly beneath the jaw A3. The

jaws are urged together by a spring C', simi-V lar to that above described and lying in a groove a, formed on the under faces of the jaws. Thus constructed the jaw A4 has sufficient base to insure easy travel in the ways, while free to move to a limited extent and occupying but little space.

Figs. .fl and lO show a universally-adjustable form, in which the jaws A(i A and their ways BIl BAl may be in all respects similar to the form first described, excepting that the ends of the base are grooved transversely, as at b b', to match the rabbeted strips E' E' on a subbase E, and thus allow the whole bloclr to be shifted bodily thereon to any desired position, while the jaws AG maybe separated, as before described, within the limits set by the strips E at each end of the block.

ln all the forms it will be observed that the block occupies but little vertical height and has a relatively deep jaw-opening and that the line of the pull exerted by the spring is at a low level within the ways, thus allowing the jaws to travel easily and smoothly and avoiding the tendency to bind or jam in the ways.

Other modifications may be made in the `forms andl proportions within wide limits without departing from-the principle of the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

The rabbeted ways shown in Figs. t', 7, and. 8 may be substituted for the dovetail ways shown in the earlier figures or other means for producing sliding engagement employed.

VVe claiml. In a block of the character set forth, a base, parallel ways thereon, a pair of jaws received and guided in said ways with liberty to move toward and from each other while maintaining the parallelism of their adjacent faces, a spring attached to both jaws and serving to urge them together with an equal tension on each, and a center piece secured between said jaws and serving to limit their approach and determine the central line between them, all combined and arranged to serve with a case or box substantially as here in specified.

2. The holding-block described consisting of a base, parallel ways thereon, a pair of jaws received 4and guided in said ways with liberty to move toward and from each other, and a spring attached to both jaws and serving to urge them together, in combination with each other and with a subbase and the parallel guiding-strips thereon in which said base is mounted with liberty to move in a direction transverse to said ways, all substantially as herein specified.

3. In a block of the character described a base with ways and grooves slidable jaws with grooves, ahelical spring connecting said jaws, and disposed in said grooves, and a device between the jaws to limit their approach, and a flexible covering over said jaws with sufficient fullness to allow of the sliding of the jaws, as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the invention above set forth we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN J. FLETCHER. C. E. BULKLEY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD MOGARTHY, CHARLES R. SEARLE.

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